Magnesium
Calcium and magnesium work together synergistically in many complex ways within our bodies. Both calcium and magnesium play important roles in keeping bones healthy while regulating other vital functions like nerves and heartbeat.
You need magnesium to be able to absorb calcium – they also both compete for absorption, so it is important to have a supplement with a properly balanced ratio.
Magnesium can also help with bone loss, which is why it's given to address osteoporosis. Many researchers believe magnesium is just as important, if not more, than calcium in preventing bone loss and maintaining healthy bones.
If you don't have enough magnesium, calcium can build up in your tissues and lead to arthritis – magnesium is a key nutrient to ensure proper use of calcium in the body. It is clear that calcium alone does not prevent bone loss, osteoporosis, arthritis, or further joint issues. We are also more likely to be deficient in magnesium than we are in calcium based on dietary intake and daily needs.
Here are some of the benefits of magnesium:
- Ensures proper functioning of kidneys, adrenals, heart, and nervous system
- Healthy muscle function, muscle contraction, and relaxation
- Essential to proper digestion
- Aids in anxiety and restlessness
- Electrolyte balance
Calcium
Of all the essential minerals in your body, calcium is the most abundant. Nearly all of it is stored in your bones and teeth.
Calcium is vital to bone health. It helps bones develop. Your bones begin to lose density as you get older, and calcium ensures you maintain adequate bone strength and density as you age.
Calcium also contributes to establishing:
- Proper muscle function (contraction)
- Normal blood clotting
- Neurotransmission and nerve signals
- Digestive enzyme function
Why Does Calcium Need Magnesium to be Effective?
It is recommended to take calcium and magnesium supplements together because they work synergistically to keep bones healthy.
They also compete for absorption (too much calcium will prevent proper magnesium use and vice versa), so it is important to have enough magnesium when taking calcium to ensure both are properly utilized by the body.
Magnesium is essential for the normal absorption of calcium.
However, as calcium may accumulate in soft tissue without adequate magnesium levels to balance it out, you should always have a balance of both.